Happy Birthday Ben!

I really can't believe 2 years has gone by that you came into our lives. You have been such a blessing in so many ways. You are happy & smile 95% of the time! You are a fiesty little guy though & let us know when you are mad. You are very curious about everything & you are into anything you can get your hands on.

You have been doing a bear crawl for a while now to get around but you are walking more & more. You will take 10-15 steps unassisted! You have been a little mockingbird lately trying to repeat things we say..it's really cute!

I hope someday you realize how many peoples lives you have touched.
You are the light of our lives! I can't imagine our lives without you..

Wordless Wednesday

What do you see?

Triples!!

I love when Harris Teeter does triple coupons! Here are the deals I got today..
Total before any discounts $71.06
Total amount OOP $18.74!
I saved $52.32!!

1-Lucky Charms $2.79 - $.75x3 = $.54
2-Palmolive B1G1 $3.79 - $.70x3 = $1.69 ($.85each)
3-Viva Papertowels @ 3/$5 - $.40x3(each) = $1.40 ($.47each)
1-Dawn hand soap $.99 - $.50x3 = FREE
1-Cascade rinse aid $3.49 - $.50x3 = $1.99
1-Mr Clean Eraser $3.29 - $.75x3 = $1.04
2-Shake & Bake @ $2.69each - $.75x3 each = $.44 each
2-OldElPaso Tortillas @2.75 each - $3.00 VIC savings - $.75x3 =$.25 for both!
2-OldElPaso Taco Seasoning B1G1 $1.00 - $.75x3 = FREE!
1-McCormick Seasoning $2.59 - $.75x3 = $.34
2-Barilla Penne Pasta @2/$3 - (2)$.55x3 = FREE!
2-Crest Toothpaste @2/$5 - (2)$.75x3 = $.50 ($.25each)
HT eggs VIC Sale $.99 1 doz
1-Excedrin 24ct. $2.50 - $.75x3 = $.25
1-SunChips FREE w/FB coupon

I also bought a few extra items..milk & a few things for Ben (Ravoili & Chef Boyardee stuff)

Another 1st...

It was put off for a while..longer than Daddy wanted. But Ben was in need of a haircut. It is hard to see that newborn baby hair get cut off..don't know why..just is! Ben was excited to sit in the firetruck & was fine with his cape but then she started messin with his hair & he wasn't so sure. He squirmed & put his hands on his head but the hairstylist just kept going. I was sure she was going to cut one of his fingers off..lol He looked so cute when she was done. No blood was shed & it was straight (worth the extra $$).

This was at the beginning of February, I have just been a lazy blogger lately. He already needs another haircut!


BEFORE


Lovin the firetruck


Not sure so about this


All done!


I look good!!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy New Year..a little late

So if you haven't noticed or don't know me well, I am late most of the time. A little update on the past month since I neglected to post an update about Ben. he ended up staying in the hospital for 10 days, 7 of them in the PICU. I finally had to put my foot down about them trying to get the feeding tube placed. After the third time of not being able to get it, I told them I wanted his oxygen turned down & I wanted him to try & eat. They listened & it worked. He was just on too much oxygen. They wanted him off oxygen for 24 hours before sending him home. I was bummed that he was not going to be home for Christmas. They turned off his oxygen at 9:00 am on Christmas Eve & was doing so well that we were home by Noon that day! The best gift EVER!! I can't imagine not having him there Christmas morning.

Our good friends, the McG's, came & picked Ben & I up from the hospital. Bill was still working & my parents didn't have a car seat for Ben. I am so grateful they were able to do that for us, I was more than ready to go home, as was Ben! He has been doing great since then, just trying to put back on some weight that he lost during his stay.

Christmas was great this year. Bill's parents were able to come the weekend before & my parents were here for a week! It was great to be home & enjoy Christmas with family.

We haven't been up to much lately, just hanging around..trying not to hibernate with Ben too much. The weather has been a little warmer so I have been out a little more. Today Emma, Zach & Ben woke with stuffy noses..hopefully it's nothing. I think Ben's is his molar coming in.
He has 8 teeth with #9 coming in. He pulled up to standing by himself in the bathtub the other night & just today grabbed his crib rail & pulled himself right up. He can sign more & please and blows kisses. Since he came home from the hospital it seems like he is picking up so much new stuff. He is getting so big so fast.

Everybody else is doing great, enjoying Winter..as much as we can. Hoping for some snow this year! They really want to make a snowman..we will see.

Some recent pics..

Ben at the hospital :(


At the Christmas parade


Waiting for Santa


Christmas morning


Grandpa Morton & Ben making funny faces

Update on Ben

I know many of you know already if you follow my updates on FaceBook. Ben was admitted to the hospital on Monday morning after leaving the peds office in an ambulance in respiratory distress. He tested positive for RSV & has been fighting so hard these last few days. He was moved to the PICU early Thursday morning. Since then he has been improving & we are hoping to move back to the step down PICU today. He is on quite a bit of oxygen but they have been turning it down little by little. I am praying that we are on the upside of this virus & that he will be home in time for Christmas.

Thank you to Julie & Kate for making him a prayer button. We are so amazed at all the outpouring of love & prayers for our little guy.

Forever Grateful

I feel like I can't say "Thank You" enough! Since the day Ben was born, we have had great friends & neighbors open their homes & hearts to us. They have walked along side us in this unexpected journey. This past year has been such a rollercoaster with Ben in & out of the hospital but when you have great love & support from people who you trust it makes it easier.

Last year Dan & Sarah Parisi and Pam & Kevin Martin opened their homes to our other 3 children..no questions asked. They both have 2 children of their own, so adding 3 more was a lot to take on. They did everything they could to make it as "normal" as possible for the kids. For this we are forever grateful!

This year is no different. Julie & Brenden McGlinchey and Kate & Jeremy Walser have opened their homes to our children. The McG's have 4 children & the Walser's have 5, so adding 3 more is huge. They didn't even bat an eye! For this we are forever grateful!

It is an amazing sense of relief to have people you trust take care of your children when you can't. It is a huge responsiblity & yes I would do it for them in a heartbeat! Having great friends/neighbors is priceless.

Thank you to all our friends/family who have done other things to help us out. Whether it was bringing us a meal, praying for us, a ride home from the hospital, taking care of Daisy, letting us borrow baby items, offering to help in any way they could or simply letting me vent to them..it means more than you know. For this we are forever grateful!

To all of our friends & family..Thank you so very much! We love you guys!

Wordless Wednesday

Thank you Kate, for capturing this moment :)

Better Late than Never..Right ;)

Being the slacker that I am, I didn't get around to posting some Halloween pics. We had a fun night even though it rained. We did a little trick or treating & spent the rest of the night (& into the next day!) with great friends!

Ben the Monkey..one of the few pics of him in costume..it was hot..go figure!


The one & only Taylor Swift..aka..Kaylea ;)


Emma the Cat


Zach the Chicken..he also lost half his costume in the first 10 mintues!

Praying for Stellan..

Update..11/12
He is an amazing little miracle & a fighter!

He is not doing well. If you could spare some prayers for this sweet baby boy.

A little bit of color & something new!

Just a little..

It's hard to tell by the pic but I painted the girl's room a deep purple. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it (I tend to stick with neutral colors) but I LOVE it! The girls really like it too!

Next up..

The front room (supposed to be our dining room, but it is alas a playroom). I finally got this painted..ahem..a nice neutral color..

And finally..
the downstairs bathroom..a nice silver/blue..silverberry to be exact!

I still have a bit more painting to do. Next up is the boys room. I wanted to get it all done while I had 2 extra hands here this past week, but couldn't squeeze it all in. I am determined to get most of the house painted. Afterall, we have lived here for 4 years!!

Everyday brings something new with Ben. He has fully mastered going from his belly to sitting up. So what's next you ask...




Yep, that's right..he pulled himself to his knees tonight in his crib! Not once but multiple times & thought it was so funny! He is going to be running circles around me before I know it!

Brotherly Love

Zach & Ben..
They are 2 peas in a pod! The way Ben looks up to Zach already is so sweet. I just love watching them play together. I was never worried about Zach when I was pregnant with Ben. I knew he would be a great big brother. He is that & so much more. We talk about Ben having Down Syndrome & have talked to the kids about it but I don't think Zach really understands yet. All he sees is his baby brother & he just loves him and that is all I can ask for.

I have been thinking lately about when Zach will go to school next year. I think it will be hard. I know I will be a mess..always am on first days, but mostly for Ben. We will see. Still have a little while for that.

My Lil' Pumpkin

Just a quick pic post ;)

Please Forgive Me

for not blogging in a few days. I have failed the 31 for 21 miserably! I usually blog at night but have been so tired lately. Add to that Ebay ending pretty much all of my 400+ lisitngs because I hadn't revised them yet. Well guess what I have been doing every night..editing & relisting them all. What a royal pain! Ebay & I have a love hate relationship!

I have also been doing something else lately that has been keeping me busy as a bee too. Will share more of that with pics later :)

We are off to the pumpkin patch today with the kiddos. Bill is on vacation this week & today is supposed to be a really nice day, so we kept the girls home & are going to spend the day together. Hopefully will get some good pics!
I will try to be better about blogging ;)

Smile :o)

We had some professional pictures taken recently, thanks to a very talented neighbor of ours Kate She is amazing! I highly recommend her. We had so much fun & I think the pics came out great. Here are some of them..enjoy :)

p.s. Thanks again Kate!!

Does the "List" ever get shorter?

The dreaded "to-do" list..it gets longer everyday! I see no end in sight! I haven't blogged in 2 days BUT I did get somethings on my to-do list done. I am finally painting some walls in this house! Thank you Julie for the motivation! Cleaning, laundry, dishes, kids homework, paying bills, grocery shopping..the list goes on & on. Some days I wish I had nothing to do but then I know I would be bored out of my mind. Maybe there could be more hours in a day?? I would still be tired :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Dad!! The best Father & Grandpa anyone could ask for!! We miss you so much & wish we could have been there to celebrate with you! Love you!

Meeting Ben for the first time..sorry Dad, only pics I have on this computer ;)

Just My Luck!

Emma woke early this morning throwing up..needless to say we had to cancel Ben's party :( It is a good thing I know how to procrastinate. I hadn't bought the food or cake yet, so no loss there. Hopefully next weekend & hopefully no one else gets sick..story of my life!

A Night Out

As I left the house tonight, to have a night out with friends playing Bunco, Ben was screaming & the kids were fighting. Ahhh..to get away for a little while was great! I came home to everyone fast asleep. My hubby is the best! I so want to go get Ben & snuggle him but I won't for fear he won't go back to sleep.
I didn't win or lose but had a great time with great friends! Thanks Nora for hosting & your pumpkin cobbler was very good..remind me to get the recipe ;)
See you next month ladies :o)

Big day tomorrow..Ben's Birthday party! Will post some pics then ;)